[46. Padumacchchadaniya1]

When Vipassi, the Chief Person,
the World-Lord had reached nirvana,
taking a pink lotus in bloom
I placed it on [the Buddha’s] pyre. (1) [1197]

And when [it] was placed on the pyre,
[that lotus] rose2 into the sky.
Making an awning in the sky
I held [it there]3 over the pyre. (2) [1198]

In the ninety-one aeons since
I offered that flower [to him],
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā. (3) [1199]

Forty-seven aeons ago
[I was] named Padumissara,4
victorious on [all] four sides,
a wheel-turner with great power. (4) [1200]

The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
[I have] done what the Buddha taught! (5) [1201]

Thus indeed, Venerable Padumucchchadaniya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Padumucchchadaniya Thera is finished.


  1. “Pink-Lotus-Cover-er”

  2. reading uggamī with BJTS (and PTS alt.) for PTS uggamiŋ (“I rose”)

  3. BJTS agrees in reading the verb in the first person, though BJTS alt. gives a reading in third person, which would be better here

  4. “Lord of Lotuses”